King of Hearts

8.

When they are finished eating, Garan leans his elbows on the table and gazes at Val. "How was dinner, my child?" he asks still smiling. Val has taken a sip but barely consumed any of it. She knows it's impolite to decline a dish, however, although the soup was very delicious, she lost all her appetite, no matter the hunger. She has too much on her mind.

"Thank you very much for offering me food but I'm afraid I don't feel hungry", Val replies honestly. Garan nods studying her facial features as if reading her mind. Val hates to admit it but she feels slightly intimated.

"You must be very tired. I'm sure Dánica can provide you some space to sleep in her room since we don't know how long you will be staying." Val's anxiety rushes through her and suddenly she feels like crying. She can already feel the rush of panic banging in her head. "But I don't have any intention to stay. In fact, I want to go home as soon as possible." She curses at her trembling voice.

She knows nothing about this place and these people but she knows that she has already met Garan back at the museum. She is unsure whether it's his fault, that she has landed in this strange world but he definitely has something to do with it and he might know, how Val can return home. Surely, it's not a coincidence that they have met here again. The same goes for that guy from the painting, his Highness.

Garan nods gently, showing comprehension. "I'm sure about that and I will explain the current situation to you", he replies with such calmness whereas a storm is shaking Val's body.

"There is no point in denying our first meeting at the museum. Dánica, Valencya is from ... let's say she comes from far away. From now on she will be your cousin and she will be staying and working with us. That way people won't have too many questions. She has a mission to complete, and we will do our best to support her." The girls remain silent and Val is feeling dizzy.

A mission. Far away. She will be staying.
The more Val listens to him speak, the more worried she becomes. He makes it all sound as if she has no other choice and that's what scares her.

Before Val can protest, Garan continues. "You see, there is a reason why you're here. And that reason has something to do with your ring", he points at the ruby heart on her finger. "I already recognized you when you entered the souvenir shop but when your eyes gleamed at the sight of the ring, my assumptions had been confirmed. You, my dear, are the reincarnation of Medéi Mars, Princess of Blood."

Dánica gasps. Her innocent eyes widen as she turns to Val. "You are one of the eight Medéis", Garan continues. "The Medéis are the Planetary Gods that protect our world. The Sun and the Moon are the main Medéis. Medéi Sun is the king of our land, King Zain, the Awakening King. It is followed by six planets, Venus, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus, and Saturn. The young man you met outside and in the museum is the son of the king, Prince Ulio and he is the reincarnation of Venus, which makes him The King of Hearts." Val shudders by the name. It gives her the chills of hearing it out loud.

Garan peeks at Val's ruby ring. "You probably noticed him wearing the exact same ring as yours but with a sapphire heart. Every Medéi has a Sacred Gemstone assigned to, yours is the Ruby. Prince Ulio has been abroad, searching for the Gemstones of each Medéi. He has returned today, which is why the whole city is covered in celebration, as you might have noticed. His Highness already collected three: Sapphire, Diamond, and Moonstone. However, you still have a long way to go, as five are still missing. Actually four, now that you're here," he smiles but it quickly fades away and his face stiffens. His wrinkles are now showing, he looks like a totally different person.

"Unfortunately, Prince Sulo, Ulio's older brother, is a silly rebel, and the fact that he's four years older than Ulio but won't become the next king because his powers aren't fully developed, has made him quite angry, and now he and his friends want to take over Senfira. I don't know what that poor boy has on his mind, but one thing is for sure, he has a plan, and it is an evil one. However, to fully prevent him from doing anything stupid, we need the combined powers of the Sacred Gemstones." Garan is talking and explaining and Val is almost losing her mind. How is this all even possible? This just can't be true, she refuses to believe it.

"Each Medéi has a special gift, and yours is the power of blood, meaning you can control people's blood, the body. You can manipulate their actions. We still need to figure out how to awaken your power, but I'm sure we'll find a way. We have to." Garan stops at Val's pale face. Speaking of blood, all of it has in fact left her face.

She is speechless and confused to the point that she is actually scared. Her head begins to go in circles, and she feels like she soon might collapse. Controlling other people? That's horrifying. And impossible. She is having too many thoughts contemporarily that she can only mutter a weak "What?"
No, this just can't be right. What even is this nonsense? Even if it were a joke – which Val now doubts – she wouldn't play along. She is just tired and wants to go home immediately.

Acting as though she understood everything, Val regains strength and faces the old man.

"No, I think there must be a mistake. Really, there is no way I am a Meddy, or whatever it is called. You must have mistaken me for someone else. I am just an ordinary student with already enough problems of my own. I have nothing to do with ... this", Val makes an exaggerated circling movement. She can feel her heating up. She is slowly losing her temper. Val hasn't got the nerves for this madness.
"I'm here because you gave me that cursed ring. No wonder it was free, who would pay to be catapulted into another world and be bombarded with fantastical tales. I should have known better and declined your offer. I am done playing around. You can have the ring back, I want to go home", Val states firmly.

She is wrong, it's not the shopkeeper's fault, who offered her the ring. It's her fault for accepting it. That's the price she has to pay for trusting too quickly and she hates herself for it. If only Val wouldn't have taken the ring. She can't explain the story with the painting though, that she admits.

Garan kindly smiles at her, ignoring her rudeness. "I can imagine how you must feel right now, dear, I truly do. It's difficult to accept reality when faced with things that might seem impossible at first glance. But trust me, this is only the beginning. Time will help you understand."
Val unexpectedly raises her voice. "I don't want to understand, I just want to go home, please", her voice cracks at her last word. Val hates to sound pleading or desperate, but in this case, that's exactly how she feels and she can't afford to fake it.

Garan folds his fingers as he calmly but determined states, "I'm afraid you can't. Especially not now. Not at this hour." He smiles at her intently. Compassion and kindness are written in his eyes. How can someone be so demanding and friendly at the same time?

"I know that is a lot of information, and that is just the tip of the iceberg. But that's all you need to know for now. Although this is a highly important matter that involves the whole kingdom, yet there is one thing you must always prioritize, which is your health. Health always comes first! My child, you look weak. You need sleep and don't even dare to protest. I won't let you sleep on the streets. Dánica will take care of you. Now, you better go to sleep because you need it. Dánica, please show her your room, I will do the dishes." He ends the conversation, turning his back to the girls.

Val won't accept this strange reality and she will return home. She will do whatever is needed to see her parents again. This is the first time today that she thinks about them. They must be so worried about her. It's already evening, and she hasn't arrived home. Have they already called the police? This morning she has argued with her mother, and she still regrets the things she's said. When she returns, she will apologize to her. Cloé and Stella also must have gone crazy. The first minute she was walking next to them and the next she disappeared. They would never imagine that Val has jumped into a painting. Val really hopes, there is a way to go home, she really wants this nightmare to end.
Garan won't help her. Not until she has completed this weird mission he was talking about. Maybe Dánica might help her. She hasn't made a sound during the whole conversation. Val needs to find out whether Dánica knows something that could help her leave this place.

Dánica stands up and gently touches Val's shoulder. Before leaving the kitchen for the room to the right, Garan adds "Oh and Val? Welcome to Senfira", he smiles squeezing his so tightly eyes, that they almost vanish from his face.